Skyline Trail on Saturday

[ericoneal]

Im in town from Kentucky and am looking to do the Skyline trail, starting at around 2:00AM Saturday morning. Does anyone have trail conditions for Grubbs notch(I have crampons!) or is anyone else heading up that day? We took the TRAM up last night and there appeared to be minimal snow. (wasnt sure after the storm on Monday)
Also, I have several maps and a GPS track, but is the trail generally easy to follow, especially along the ridge and over the traverse? Much of it appears to be visible on Google Earth, so I assume its ok. Is it marked regularly?

One more question, assuming I have plenty of water (which I do), should I need to turn back at some point, it should be OK this time of year, correct? Temperatures are very mild right now...
Not sure what to expect other than lots of climbing.

Thanks!

PS(I am not a troll)

[Ed]

I had a Skyline snow report for last Saturday under Cactus to Cloud - March 21. Since it snowed earlier this week, I suspect there will be more snow this weekend. I believe in always carrying trekking poles and microspikes when there is snow on the trail. It is currently too thin and intermittent for crampons to make sense.

The trail is not difficult to follow for people who are familiar with it. It can be for first-timers. I saw a group of four last weekend, puzzling over forks in the trail, taking 'shortcuts' that often don't make sense, etc. At one point, after taking one such shortcut, they were coming down the trail, and I had to turn them around. The route-finding problems are not extreme, you can't become very lost, but they can be frustrating, slow you down, and even add to fatigue. If you make your goal Skyline rather than C2C, you can start later, and following the trail will be easier due to more daylight and more people on the trail with you.

I'm a little concerned about talking about turning around. Turning around is never a pleasant option once you are two-thirds of the way up, and I don't know how you train for elevation gain in Kentucky. Temperatures are mild now. But last Saturday the Palm Springs High/Low were a moderate 82/59. And yet for some reason I've rarely felt as hot on the middle part of the trail. And drank every drop of my 3 quarts of water, which I rarely do.

Best of luck.

[ericoneal]

Thanks for the info. I only mention turning back as a last resort.. waist-high snow, troglodytes, etc..
Not much training for elevation at all in Kentucky, but I did hike to the summit of Mt. LeConte in the Smokies (4000' climb) last month and felt fine.
My goal is the TRAM, but the full Cactus to Clouds would be a nice bonus if Im feeling it.

Will post a report and pictures.

[ericoneal]

I made it! Had a great hike, and although strenuous, didnt really get gassed until I hit Caufman's Crag, that last section to the top is killer. Someone must have went through after the rain earlier than me on Satuday morning (I left at 3:00am) because I could follow their tracks in the mud, sand, and snow all the way to the TRAM. Saw my first sign of some snow at Rescue box 2. It was empty except for an open water bottle,so I left a granola bar. Light was also tore off of the top, I think a branch fell on it. Box 1 was full. Traction definitely needed at the Traverse.

Good Times...

[Ed]

Congratulations! I have conflicted feelings on the trek from Coffman's Crag to Grubbs Notch. On the one hand, I know it will be over soon. On the other hand, I want it to be over now. It is tougher psychologically the first time, when it seems to go on, and on, and on..... After you have timed it, it is more like being on an exercise machine at a fitness center, you know when it will be over. Unless you are one of the crazies, like Ellen and her gang, who are into doing it in deep snow. I always kick myself for not being able to enjoy the scenery there, it is quite spectacular, but I am too far gone at that point to take much pleasure in it.